oasisCHURCH

an additional reminder to the body...

I originally posted this as a comment under yesterday's blog but have now decided to make it a main entry.

Just because I am "doing my own thing" over here doesn't mean I am not working with the rest of the body. This morning my eye said to my ear, "Hey, can't you see that beautiful woman standing in front of us? There you go again, out there doing your own thing." But my ear said back to my eye, "Just because I can't see her doesn't mean I am not paying attention. I can hear what she is saying. Which may be even more important than seeing her." Then the eye comes back with, "Oh no, nothing can be more important than seeing her." Finally, the brain gives these two parts of the body a greater perspective on the situation. It says, "Fellas, you both need one another. You compliment one another because you are so different. With the eye and the ear alike, you can pay special attention to that beautiful woman a thousand times better than you could by yourself. Don't assume that because one part is distinct, and doing it's own thing, that it is not working for the good of the body. Of course it is."

"Working together" often comes in separate buildings, with separate leadership, and separate functions, events, and flavors. And, to be honest, the more different groups we have "working together" in their own separate way the greater possibility there is that they are most likely accomplishing more than if we pooled all of our resources together in one big group.

I like to think God knows what He is doing. He's in more control than we realize.

I also believe that often, perception is reality. What we perceive to be true is often true... or at least it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. So think about it. If the church is constantly perceiving itself as divided, disunited... and we focus all of our energy, conversations, etc. on that as a "problem" we need to fix, then we will never get to the mission Jesus set us on. But, if we recognize that in our many differences we are but ONE body, working together in our own particular way, then perhaps we can begin moving forward in the actual mission of the church (the collective disciples of Jesus... whose mission is to make more disciples of Jesus. It's JESUS who unifies... not us. Let Him do his job, and as we focus on ours we will be ONE).

distinction vs. division

I used to become weary as I drove around town looking at all of the different church buildings with different names on their signs, and knowing how different they must all be in the things they do as a fellowship. It seemed like you could find a different church on every corner. “Oh how this must frustrate You, God,” I prayed. “To look around and see all of these divisions among us, when You have called us to be ONE.”

But recently God has responded to my prayer. And His response was a little surprising, I’ll admit. Here’s what He spoke to my heart. “Why are you assuming they are divided? Just because there are many differences—distinctions—does not automatically mean there is division.”

Certainly if you look back at the history of how the church became a multitude of denominations and autonomous local bodies from city to city you find that people were divided, often over silly issues and things one group held as a value while other groups did not. But for the most part, if you walked into any one of these fellowships you would see them worshiping the One God, Creator and Lord, who came to this world as the man, Jesus Christ; who died on a cross, conquered death by returning to life after he was buried in a tomb, and has now come to live in everyone who believes and calls on His name, through the power of the Holy Spirit. How they worship and talk about these things, and how they come to believe in these things, may be many different ways… but does that mean they are divided? Just because they have different buildings, different names by which they identify themselves, different pastoral leadership, different methods, etc.? Of course they are not divided. They are distinct.

But when we misunderstand who initiates this thing we call “unity” we tend to assume there is much division among us. You see it is not our goal to “strive” for unity. Such a goal suggests that unity is something we have not yet possessed, but through our efforts and our “striving” maybe we can someday possess it. Let’s look at what Scripture has to say about this.

One of the most popular passages on this subject is when Jesus prays for all believers just before he was crucified. John’s Gospel records it like this… “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

What an awesome prayer! The answer to this prayer is not possible unless a perfect sacrifice is provided for sin, which will reconcile all people to God and also to each other. Jesus is the answer to his own prayer. He was about to be that sacrifice. He was about to reconcile us to the Father and to one another through his death on the cross. Soon we would be ONE just as he prayed we would be.

Why do I know this to be true? Look at what the apostle Paul says regarding unity. Ask yourself, “Does it appear that he views unity as something we need to strive for, or is it something that has already been given to us?” In Ephesians 4 he writes… “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Notice the language… “keep” the unity (how can we keep something that we do not yet have), “ONE” body and “ONE” Spirit (the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer, connecting us all over the world to one another), “ONE” Lord (Jesus Christ), “ONE” faith (Christianity), “ONE” baptism (your conversion), “ONE” God (the Father of all creation).

Those are the things that make us unified. Those are the components of unity. Therefore the only way a group of believers would not be united is if they were missing one of those components… if they worshiped another God, or put their faith in another Gospel, etc. But NOT if they have a denominational identification, or worship in a building rather than in a home, or use an organ instead of a guitar, or they wear jeans instead of ties and dresses, or if they read from the King James Version rather than the NIV, or if they baptize before they believe or believe before they baptize, or speak in tongues or don’t speak in tongues, or dance and sing in worship or quietly ponder God’s presence and activity.

All of these things are what make God’s people distinct… not disunited. I believe God honors our distinctions. He looks around His kingdom and He sees lots of flavor, lots of diversity. And this world is in need of lots of flavor. Even the smallest of towns in the USA is in need of distinct flavors. So please don’t despair just because you live in a town of 500 people and there are 50 different churches. Don’t assume there is a great division among God’s people. Instead, recognize the beauty in being distinct. Just never allow your distinctions to divide you. There is a thin line between the two. And we do have to be careful. The moment one group says, “We worship the ONE Lord but you don’t because you do this or that,” well there you have the root of division. Allow one another to be distinct. And recognize the unity God has given us in Jesus Christ, through the Spirit. Unity is something that comes from the Spirit, not from us. As long as churches think unity is something they can accomplish they will forever be missing the point, and they will lose every distinction and calling God has placed on them in a given community. Because all of their efforts will go toward creating unity instead of fulfilling the mission of God.

But Chris, you say, didn’t Jesus pray that the world will come to believe in Him when they see we are ONE? Yes, but we must see it too. We must see that we are ONE because of Jesus. That is the message the world needs to hear. That is the prayer Jesus prayed. If the world sees that Jesus died to reconcile us to God and to one another, and they see us living in this reconciliation in a distinct group of believers called the family of God, then they will not be able to resist God’s amazing love and power. And they will want to join this family. When they do, they will most likely identify with a “distinct” group of believers in a particular city, but at the same time, because of the Spirit of Christ, they will be reconciled on a much larger scale to the Body of believers everywhere.

So brothers and sisters everywhere, I urge you… make every effort keep the unity that has been given to us. At the same time, keep your flavors that make you distinct in the body of Christ.

living as the church

In our study of Ephesians we have begun the transition into the practical implications of being "The Church." Paul begins the letter by explaining who God is, and what God's desire is for us... to create for Himself a people who would know Him intimately, and imitate Him by doing the good works He created us to do.

When we really understand who we are, then it makes it so much more natural to simply live out our lives for God's glory, doing the things we are called to do.

If you'd like to listen to the mp3 of the teaching from this Sunday, you can get it here. Below are some additional thoughts about how we can strive to BE the church together. Someone recently sent me an email with some questions about Oasis and our activity in Athens. I thought I'd share some of my answers on here, as it is always good to be reminded of these important values.
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About our "local" church. We have actually just begun recently. I am a church planter, but not in the traditional sense. I value simplicity and putting "BEING the church" ahead of "GOING to church." Therefore we put less emphasis on meetings, buildings, budgets, and numbers... and try to emphasize church as a way of life. I do believe it is important for Christians to gather together. The New Testament is clear that this continuing practice builds strength and encouragement and maturity among the believers. The problem comes when the church is run like a machine, a business, or perhaps a better illustration would be "a mall." The mall mentality feeds the consumerism of our culture. We go to church to get what we need. Our relationship with Jesus... and the entirety of our Christian life becomes centered around the Sunday meeting.

But the question I always ask people is this... What if our meetings were all removed from us (like in some parts of the world... say, China)? What would your sustenance in Christ be during that time? In the USA we have become very spoiled, and very dependant on church meetings.

Having said all of that, here is how we identify ourselves. We've begun with one house church meeting in Athens. It meets on Monday evenings on Luhrig Road in a big farm house owned by Good Works Inc. (we call it Oasis at Hannah House). We share the Lord's Supper in the form of a full meal at 6:00 PM, and then convene to a room upstairs for worship in song and prayer, Bible Study and open conversation. It's a relaxed, family atmosphere. As that church grows we will begin making plans to give birth to another house church in Athens. And as both of those grow they will make plans to give birth as well, and then there will be four, then eight, then sixteen, etc... You see where I am headed. I would love to see a church who gathers within walking distance from every home in Athens. With the mega-corporate church, that's just not possible. But with the multiplication of simple churches I believe it is.

Simple church isn't limited to a house. I also meet with a handful of people in Donkey Coffee shop every Thursday from NOON to 2:00. We dig into scripture and share insights and prayers over some of the best cappuccino in Athens (IMO).

Something else God has recently called me to do is partner in the beginning of a new campus fellowship at OU called "a church within The Church." This new campus ministry and the house churches are inextricably linked because one of the core values of the campus ministry is to promote intergenerational discipleship and active participation in "body life"... the life of the church, not just the life of the campus.

Just as well, the ministry of Oasis is not limited to Athens. In fact, we actually began first in Meigs County, in Middleport (just 30 minutes south of Athens). Three years ago we began house churches there, then the folks in the house churches wanted to gather together on Sunday morning to celebrate their fellowship as a bigger family (sort of like a family reunion). So we've been renting space in an old American Legion building in Middleport on Sundays from 10:00 AM until around NOON usually. The atmosphere in that gathering is very relaxed as well, although it's not quite the same as the simple church. We have a band who leads worship in song, there is still food, but we also observe the sacrament of communion, and I teach theology (primarily straight through books of the Bible rather than on topical issues... my desire is to allow the topical issues to come out on their own from the Scriptures, and to help people view their issues through the lens of Scripture rather than Scripture through the lens of their issues). This meeting gives the people an opportunity to connect with others, and it's a lot of fun for the younger kids.

We try to place a lot of value on what we call "simple church." Simple church is just like it sounds... simply BEING the church, without placing a lot of extra-curricular rules on people. I suppose the most specific definition of "Simple Church" would be this... our goal is to make sure that whatever we do can be easily duplicated. If the church is going to multiply rapidly it must be kept simple. Multiplication will not happen in the large meetings, but rather, in the smaller, simpler gatherings of people all throughout the community.

Church is not about the weekly gathering (whether it's in homes or wherever)... although those are alot of fun... it's about a different way of life. I want to make sure I am not just talking about this... but living it out, and exhorting others to do the same.

Some Personal Nostalgia

After watching the Red Sox pull off perhaps the most amazing feat of any Major League Baseball team ever, I just can’t sleep. I love this game. And I love writing my thoughts, so I figured I would post a little bit of my personal, long, and ever-continuing love affair with this game called baseball. Baseball has always been one of the loves of my life, although I have not posted many baseball thoughts on stewieBLOGS. For the most part this blog has been reserved for my “two families,” the two greatest loves of my life, but now and then I can reserve some time and space for a close third.

“The one constant through all the years… has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It’s been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But, baseball has marked the time. This field, this game, is a part of our past… It reminds us of all that once was good, and could be again.”
– Terence Mann (James Earl Jones) in “Field of Dreams”

When I was born I was given a baseball glove by my uncle Jim, and before I was a year old my family members were teaching me how to say words like, “Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, play ball!” We even had a dog named after the Reds’ manager “Sparky” Anderson. My dad built me a batting tee, a pitching rubber, and a home plate, and my back yard became my own field of dreams. I remember one day when I was 10 years old we were throwing in the yard, and the local police officer came driving up through our neighborhood with his new radar detector in his car. He stopped beside our house and pointed the radar gun at a few of my pitches and clocked me at 54, 52, and 56 MPH. I was on my way!!!

In Little League I played for a team that came close to winning the BIG championship 3 years in a row. And then finally, in my fourth and final year we won it all, and I was named MVP. After the regular season I played for the Big Bend All-Star Team and we went to two different tournaments and won them both (in one game of one of those tournaments my mother was ejected by an umpire and ordered to go sit at least 500 feet away from the field… but you’ll have to ask her about that… LOL… now I’m in trouble).

Pretty much the same exact story happened during my Pony League years, only this time the radar guns were clocking my pitches between 76-82 MPH. I was ready to begin preparing for my future in baseball.

During my high school years I carried a weighted baseball around school constantly. I did reports on books written by Pete Rose, Orel Hershiser, and Nolan Ryan. I carried a book on Pitching in my book bag and read it whenever I had extra time. I dug up addresses and names of Major League scouts, wrote them letters and invited them to watch me play. During high school I went to a few local tryout camps conducted by the Reds and the Pirates. By my senior year my fastball had hit 85-86 MPH.

I have often taken some time to ponder my personal history and realize that the decisions I made post-high school (and the influence of my parents on those decisions) were without a doubt some of the most significant decisions of my life in determining where I am today. I know most people could easily say the same, but if I had gotten my way I’m certain I would not be where I am today. The fact is baseball has never been my first love. Maybe it was for a while, but Jesus took that place in my heart from the time I was 12 years old. From that time God began to shape me into His plan for my life, and on a couple of occasions I attempted to take over the reigns. But He was ultimately in control.

I remember writing my Mom and Dad a letter after I had received an offer from a University coach to transfer to his school and play baseball for his team. I had gone to Kentucky Christian College because I sensed God’s call on my life to serve Him full-time in ministry, but the mistress of baseball was always there, seducing me. Through prayer and heart-felt, honest conversation my parents convinced me to keep the course God had set me on, and I did. Baseball would soon be a thing of the past. Or would it?

After college graduation in 1994 one of my friends from the KCC baseball team invited me to attend an open tryout for a team that was in a newly formed professional baseball independent league called the Frontier League (today one of the premiere independent professional baseball leagues from whom several Major League scouts draw). The team was in Chillicothe, Ohio. I had just accepted a full-time youth ministry position at a church in Waverly and was loving my job. I was even coaching a Pony League baseball team in Waverly. But I agreed to go to this tryout with my friend.

At most of the tryouts I had attended previously I went as a pitcher. Most of the time when a scout would look at me in college it was as a pitcher. I had heard the same story 100 times… “Your fastball is decent (by this time it was around 88 MPH tops), and your off-speed pitches are decent, but you are small for a pitcher (5’10), and therefore your potential for growth is very limited…” I had heard those lines enough, and this tryout was just going to be for fun, so I decided to try out for the outfield. A position in which I had limited experience, but thought I could do okay with the long throws to third and to home plate. My arm had always been my greatest strength.

In a tryout situation all outfielders are instructed to go to deep right field (about 8 feet from the wall). One of the coaches then hits you 3 ground balls and 3 fly balls, you field them and throw them to third base… then the same scenario to home plate. I’ll never forget picking up the first ground ball hit to me, crow hopping, and cutting it loose only to watch it soar about 10 feet over the third baseman’s head and go crashing into the 3rd row of seats. Immediately coaches come wandering out with clipboards in their hands. I thought I was in trouble for sure.

Not so. After the individual field workouts the coaches sent about half of the 88 players home, and the rest of us each hit about 10 batting practice balls, then we were done for the day. I had a great time. I was sitting in the stands gathering my equipment and thanking my friend for inviting me, and all of a sudden I hear my name being called out. My friend jabbed me in the ribs and said, “Dude, they’re calling you back next week.” I was shocked. They took 8 players from that tryout and invited them to a special invitational tryout, and I was one of those players.

The second tryout was a whole different level of ballplayers. There were guys from colleges all over the country, and even out of the country. I met guys from Puerto Rico, Mexico, LSU, Chicago, UCLA, USC, etc… they were all invited to attend this tryout. There were agents there ready to sign new players to contracts. There were die-hard Chillicothe Paints fans there watching to see who the new rookies were going to be. I hadn’t fully taken in what was happening. I originally just did all of this for fun… but these guys were cut-throat serious. Many of them had saved money in order to travel all over the country from tryout to tryout, just hoping to get picked up by a team. I on the other hand had recently gotten married, begun a full-time youth ministry job, and was coaching a group of Pony League kids.

The invitational tryout was run much like the open tryout, except after the individual workouts the coaches then selected 16 position players and 6 pitchers to play in a scrimmage game where they then evaluated each player in a game situation, and from which they would either immediately sign new players, or invite them to participate in a draft the following week with all of the Frontier league teams. This time, out of 128 players, I was selected as one of those 16 to play in right field. I played okay in the scrimmage game. I remember getting hit by a pitch, flying out, grounding out, and getting one base hit up the middle. When the day was done I was not given an immediate contract, but invited to participate in the upcoming draft for all of the Frontier League teams.

I couldn’t believe it. The dream of my life had been to play professional baseball, and the opportunity sneaks it’s way into my life after I had settled into my ministry and could finally see God beginning to mold and shape the days of my life. This, I think, was significant. If the opportunity had come sooner, I doubt I would have had the maturity to turn it down. But on the drive from Chillicothe back to Waverly that evening… after a full day of baseball and an offer to come back and get drafted… I just began singing and praising God. I knew that I would not go back. I knew that God had answered the question of my heart, which was… “Could I have played at least in a minor, independent league if I wanted to?” I was content. And I never went back. From that day forward I began pouring myself into ministry, and graduated my baseball abilities to coaching.

As a baseball coach, I never thought I could ever enjoy the game as much as I did as a player… but I do. I may have had more “enjoyment” playing the game. There really is nothing like it. However, I know I “appreciate” the game more as a coach.

Yes, Terence Man, I agree. Baseball may not have been the only constant throughout the years of my life, but it most certainly has been one of them… and a big one. Thank you, God, for baseball. You have taught me many complexities of life through such a simple little game. It has been a recreation that has brought me much joy over the years, and I look for it to bring me much more for many years to come.

And for my good friends in St. Louis...

I believe!!! Make some noise at home.

For the fine folks of New England

May they do what no team has ever done before!!!

Mustard Seed-Sized Faith

If you were unable to be at our Oasis Sunday gathering this week, you must listen to, at the very least, the first 5 minutes of the MP3... as Mike Kennedy tells the story of praying for his daughter to be healed. It is amazing. It will quicken your faith. Get it here.

More Email Problems

Several people have told me they are trying to email me. I apologize, but my chris@oasiscf.com account is down again, and has been down 3 out of the last 5 days. If you are trying to reach me through email this week please use diamondD1@columbus.rr.com. Hopefully the Oasis account problems will be resolved soon.

Lets Talk Presidential Election 2004

The following post is a compilation of thoughts... some my own, but some from others as well (see the cited list for links to sources). This morning in our Oasis gathering we discussed most of this material as a means to open conversation about the upcoming presidential election. If you would like to listen to that mp3 and read as you listen, you can get it here.
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I recently had someone ask me, “What makes you most nervous about talking politics in church?” That’s a good question. I guess I would first have to admit that I am nervous, and then answer the question. Considering the amount of time I have invested over the past two or three months studying issues, researching candidates, and gathering as much information as I possibly can in order to be a “smart voter,” I would have to admit that it does make me a little nervous. As I have considered how to handle the “election season” with Oasis I recognize that I have a few different options.

1. I could ignore it completely.

2. I could remind you to vote as your “civic Christian duty,” and just leave it at that.

3. I could teach on the moral issues related to the election, things about which we are undoubtedly already in agreement.

Or, compelled by what’s going on in our country and world, I could try a fourth option.

4. Discuss all of the options available to you, and teach and educate ourselves on the things about which we may not already be in agreement.

Brian McLaren suggests that perhaps the most powerful and popular denomination in America is not the Baptists or the Catholics or the Methodists or the Assemblies of God. It’s what McLaren calls "radio-orthodoxy"—the set of beliefs promoted by religious broadcasting. If you doubt the power of radio-orthodoxy, just try contradicting it, especially in an election year.

The fact is, it’s hard to be a good pastor any time, but during an election year in a country blanketed by religious broadcasting, it gets even harder. How do we teach and lead our churches in a year like this—with an important and divisive election underway? As a result of radio-orthodoxy, it could be said that many if not most Christians in America are more or less unspoken members of the Religious Right. It doesn’t matter if pastors teach about social justice and care for the poor, the environment, the alien (stranger), or the enemy. Every day during drive time, well-intentioned people who tune into Christian radio hear radio-orthodox broadcasts from a different vantage point. Then, confused Christians have to decide with whom they agree. [1]

I will not go with option 1—ignore the election completely—although it is what some pastors choose to do. To ignore the election altogether is to ignore one of the most weighty issues every adult American citizen is pondering at this time in their lives. In my family we talk about things. We have discussions that are helpful to us in decision-making. The results of these discussions are hopefully wiser, more confident decisions. Oasis is a family. And hopefully we all desire to make wise decisions as we follow our Lord Jesus.

Neither will I go with option 2—to remind you that voting is your civic Christian duty, and leave it at that—although this is what many pastors choose to do. Yes, we have a civic Christian duty—to be a good citizen of the land in which you happen to live—but I do not believe our civic duty ends with voting. Christians are called to be good citizens, to engage their world and not to withdraw from government altogether. So, what does that mean? It means whether one decides to vote or not, one must find ways to contribute to our society/nation on Christ's terms. It has often been said that it is one's Christian duty to vote. But I am not convinced that such a statement is biblical. In fact, the biblical writers and audiences didn't have the right to vote in their land. However, it is certainly accurate to say that Christians must be good citizens and work for the betterment of their nation and communities. Many Christians exhaust their civic responsibilities by voting, believing that after they've voted they need do nothing else. [2] This is primarily why I will not go with option 2. We have a civic duty to do much more than vote.

Option 3—teaching on the moral issues surrounding the election—is not something I desire to do either simply because it would be “preaching to the choir” so to speak. This is the option most pastors choose during an election year. This is the option we are bombarded with through email, radio, and Christian advertising. Most of us already know and agree with the moral issues at hand. It’s easy to preach up a sweat when you know nearly everyone in the church is thinking, "Amen! Give ‘em hell… er… heaven!" But when your church feels threatened, intimidated, rebuked, insulted, discomforted, and otherwise unsettled, it’s another matter. We tend to shy away from tension. But it is the tension that makes us stronger. Invite it. Welcome it. Embrace it.

That is why I will go with option 4—discuss all of the options available to you, and teach and educate ourselves on the things about which we may not already be in agreement. Use your imagination for just a minute. Imagine we are living in Alabama or Mississippi, and it’s 1962. Oasis is an all-white church of Christians who share the views of our neighbors about integration, equality, and the like. As a pastor I would like to be truly prophetic in teaching the truths of God’s Word. One option would be for me to preach some rip-roaring sermons that would either get me fired fast or send most of you packing for a church more to your liking. I could then move to Massachusetts and get a job there, telling the story of my valiant stand for truth and consequent persecution among the Southern savages, and thereby become a certified hero, well-perched to preach similar fiery sermons against the bigotry of people in the South, to cries of "Amen! Give ’em hell… er… heaven!" from my New England parishioners. This would be very good for my career and very fulfilling. I could even write magazine articles about my exploits. But what good would it really do? Another option would be to avoid the subject of racism for 30 or 40 years, until other larger forces have already brought a change in the thinking of Oasis people. Then I could preach about it with enthusiasm, waiting just long enough to have all the excitement of taking risks, with none of the risk. What I am looking for, however, is a better option than either thundering self-righteousness or avoidance. It will involve risk. But it will also involve patience and gentleness and respect. Yes, I will need to be bold and courageous, but I will also need to be both clever as a serpent and harmless as a dove. [1]

Having said all of that as introduction, lets now get into the discussion.

The first thing we must recognize and admit is the fact that God is not aligned with any political party. God is not a Republican or a Democrat. Contrary to claims made by the Religious Right, God has not taken a side in the election of a President.

"It is the responsibility of every political conservative, every evangelical Christian, every pro-life Catholic, every traditional Jew, every Reagan Democrat, and everyone in between to get serious about re-electing President Bush." – Jerry Falwell, The New York Times, July 16, 2004

"I think George Bush is going to win in a walk. I really believe I'm hearing from the Lord it's going to be like a blowout election in 2004. The Lord has just blessed him...It doesn't make any difference what he does, good or bad..." – Pat Robertson, AP/Fox News, January 2, 2004

Consider the following statements of belief as posted by Sojourners magazine, a Christian publication on faith, politics, and culture.

We believe that God is NOT a Republican or a Democrat.

We believe that claims of divine appointment for the President, uncritical affirmation of his policies, and assertions that all Christians must vote for his re-election constitute bad theology and dangerous religion.

We believe that sincere Christians and other people of faith can choose to vote for President Bush or Senator Kerry—for reasons deeply rooted in their faith.

We believe all candidates should be examined by measuring their policies against the complete range of Christian ethics and values.

We will measure the candidates by whether they enhance human life, human dignity, and human rights; whether they strengthen family life and protect children; whether they promote racial reconciliation and support gender equality; whether they serve peace and social justice; and whether they advance the common good rather than only individual, national, and special interests.

We believe that poverty—caring for the poor and vulnerable—is a religious issue. Do the candidates' budget and tax policies reward the rich or show compassion for poor families? Do their foreign policies include fair trade and debt cancellation for the poorest countries? (Matthew 25:35-40, Isaiah 10:1-2)

We believe that the environment—caring for God's earth—is a religious issue. Do the candidates' policies protect the creation or serve corporate interests that damage it? (Genesis 2:15, Psalm 24:1)

We believe that war—and our call to be peacemakers—is a religious issue. Do the candidates' policies pursue "wars of choice" or respect international law and cooperation in responding to real global threats? (Matthew 5:9)

We believe that truth-telling is a religious issue. Do the candidates tell the truth in justifying war and in other foreign and domestic policies? (John 8:32)

We believe that human rights—respecting the image of God in every person—is a religious issue. How do the candidates propose to change the attitudes and policies that led to the abuse and torture of Iraqi prisoners? (Genesis 1:27)

We believe that our response to terrorism is a religious issue. Do the candidates adopt the dangerous language of righteous empire in the war on terrorism and confuse the roles of God, church, and nation? Do the candidates see evil only in our enemies but never in our own policies? (Matthew 6:33, Proverbs 8:12-13)

We believe that a consistent ethic of human life is a religious issue. Do the candidates' positions on abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia, weapons of mass destruction, HIV/AIDS—and other pandemics—and genocide around the world obey the biblical injunction to choose life? (Deuteronomy 30:19)

We also admonish both parties and candidates to avoid the exploitation of religion or our congregations for partisan political purposes. [3] (www.sojo.net)

As we contemplate our decisions regarding voting it is imperative that we consider the truths of God’s Word, as well as His character as expressed through Jesus Christ. Someone recently asked me the question, “Who do you think Jesus would vote for if he were living in the United States today?” Man, that is perhaps the toughest question I have had to face in a very long time. And I had a very profound answer. Are you ready? I answered… “I don’t know.” However, based on Jesus’ life and teachings, there are some things that we do know about him regarding how he might vote. I believe Jesus would vote for the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. I believe he would vote for those who mourn, for they will be comforted. I believe he would vote for the meek, for they will inherit the earth. I believe he would vote for those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. I believe he would vote for the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. I believe he would vote for the pure in heart, for they will see God. I believe he would vote for the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. I believe he would vote for those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3-10)

Jesus’ mind always seemed to be on another Kingdom. Was he mindful of the earthly kingdom in which he lived? Sure he was. He paid his taxes when called upon to do so. He obeyed the governing authorities, and encouraged us to do likewise, as long as our obedience to the governing authorities does not compromise our obedience to God and His Kingdom. You see, we are members of two kingdoms, but when those two kingdoms come into opposition of one another, our allegiance falls to ONE. In the New Testament this came true for the early Christians. They belonged to God, and the conditions of His kingdom opposed what the governing authorities were teaching and admonishing them. The result was their persecution and ultimately for many of the early disciples, their death.

What does this mean for me as a voter in the United States of America? It means that when I consider how I should vote, I must consider what’s best for God’s Kingdom before I consider what’s best for the United States of America. God’s Kingdom is not the United States of America. This is a wonderful country, and I believe we should be very thankful and recognize the great privilege it is to live here. However, it is an abysmal mistake to think that we are a nation who has God’s blessing, His hand, and His protection. Those are things reserved for members of His Kingdom. And guess what. God’s Kingdom exists in many nations. We have fellow citizens in Mexico, Canada, France, Spain, Germany, Honduras, Haiti, Russia, China, Korea, and even Iraq, as well as many others. So I am fraught with the understanding that as I vote for issues and politicians in my country those decisions are also going to affect my brothers and sisters throughout the world, who are citizens of their own country, but furthermore citizens of the Kingdom of God. My allegiance must be to His Kingdom first. I must seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness.

So, if you choose to vote, you have much more to consider than the average citizen of the United States who does not belong to God. They are only considering their own interests, their own protection, their own gain. We must “look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others”—for this is the very attitude of Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:4,5).

Before you simply submit to the teaching that comes from “radio-orthodoxy,” do some research of your own, have open discussions among groups of Christians and dig into the critical issues of both the election and the scriptures. Allow people to ask you critical questions like, “Why are you considering voting for your candidate of choice?” Ask yourself that question. In these discussions and in your contemplation of these matters there are some important guidelines to consider:

1. Show respect for all positions on an issue, and for those who hold opposing opinions. It’s tempting, especially when one is reacting against a polemical, biased, chest-thumping opposition, to respond likewise and opt out of the Lord’s command about doing unto others.

2. Understand the opposing side so well that you can present its arguments as clearly as its proponents do. Each position has its upside and downside, as do opposing views. We tend to know our upside and their downside, but fairness requires we face our downside and their upside as well.

3. To show that you understand the opposition and have been willing to listen, present the opposing case’s position. Present it so compellingly that people would believe it’s your position.

4. Then present your position, rooting your position in biblical soil, admitting your position’s downsides.

5. Confess your openness to changing your thinking—thus modeling the teachability you hope your people will demonstrate. [4]

If you take time to do all of these steps as you pray, research, and discuss the presidential election, you will be giving yourself the tools you need for wisdom when it comes time to vote. You will be utilizing the important, common-courtesy of active listening (a rule that neither party seems to understand these days). God’s Word reminds us in James 1:19 “to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger”… a bit of wisdom that is ever important during these times.

You may have noticed a few paragraphs ago that I made the statement, “So, if you choose to vote…” What do you mean IF? It’s the Christian’s civic duty to vote, right? Aren’t we called to be good citizens of our government, and since it is a democracy whose success depends on our voice (which in this argument is considered “our vote”), then it is our Christian duty to vote. Right? Well, some Christians do feel that way. And that’s okay. But take time to listen to another perspective.

There are Christians who have a difficult time endorsing what many would call “the lesser of two evils.” Most of us have heard the argument that when considering whom to vote for one must weigh the candidates, and since none of them are perfect we must choose the “lesser of two evils.” The abstentionist would argue that the “lesser of two evils” is still “evil.” Some people choose to abstain because they find it difficult to support either major candidate for President. For instance, a believer may be more inclined toward Candidate A, but his positions on abortion, human life, and foreign policy may make it difficult for said believer to vote for him. But what if Candidate B had a similar list of questionable convictions and actions, it would make it difficult for the believer to vote for him in good conscience as well. This is where the “lesser of two evils” argument comes into play. Some Christians, out of ethical duty, would choose the candidate who appears “closest” to what the believer considers a righteous choice. And, again, that’s okay. However, some Christians have come to the conclusion that they simply cannot vote in favor of either candidate. The argument for that believer is, “Do I vote for the lesser of two evils as an ethical act, or is it more Christian to show my disagreement by abstaining?” So you can see why some Christians may choose to abstain from voting for President.

This is an option that is not uncommon in the wider Christian world in this country (Anabaptists Brethren, Mennonites). There is also a legacy of nonparticipation in government within the earliest members of the Restoration Movement (where the Church of Christ/Christian Churches are rooted). So, this option is not new or totally foreign to the faith, even if it is to our more immediate contexts.

Many Christians would argue that voting is participation in the empire cult, it is playing Caesar's game, and as citizens of the Kingdom of God who have higher allegiances, they feel they cannot participate. This view would be based upon the position of nonparticipation in the ways of empire held by the earliest Christians, and it assumes that ours is not a "Christian" country, but really a godless empire that only uses "Christianity" when it is politically advantageous. This may be contrary to the popular conservative Christian view, but to many believers it makes a great deal of sense. [2]

In the grand scheme of things it seems that even if a Christian decides to vote, participating in the electoral process is actually a very minor way of exercising our civic duty. Perhaps a more effective “voice” would be local activism and involvement, in which we volunteer, work for peace and justice, and write letters to our representatives and work for specific issues. Should it be said of the Christian who chooses not to vote, yet is locally very socially active in working for the betterment of the community, that he/she is not performing his/her civic duty? I should think not.

In conclusion, consider the following words from Sister Joan Chittister, writer for the National Catholic Reporter:

We must recognize that most likely God is not keeping a denominational scorecard on either party's platforms and legislative proposals, as in "This one is Christian, this one is not Christian, not Christian, Christian, Christian, not Christian." And the winner is… !!”

But, if the psalmist is anywhere near correct, there is a criterion we can all use to make our personal political decisions with moral confidence. You can bet God's own criteria still holds. You can bet God is still listening, just as in His message to Moses at the burning bush: "I have heard the cry of the poor… and I mean to deliver them."

Is it possible that this election may be a reprise of that same message—this time, for us?

The truth is that there are more than enough poor that we as a country no longer count: The unemployed who drop off the welfare rolls, the underemployed who get no benefits, the children without health insurance, the fetuses being disposed of for the sake of convenience, the Iraqi civilians being killed for the sake of macho, the elderly who are facing even more poverty in years to come as Social Security fizzles in the wealthiest country in the world while we go on investing more money in death these days than we do in life?

God is our leader, and like our leader we’d be wise to listen, as well, to the cries of the poor of other countries who, because of our economic or foreign policy plans, get poorer every day, fear us more every day and hate us more every day.

The list goes on and on. Who is "pro-life"? Where is the morality of saving life at one end only to starve it in mid-flight or kill it off cavalierly at the other?

And why are we as a people so nonchalant about it, so apparently unconscious of it all, so committed to a single-issue focus in the midst of it? Is it perhaps that this time Christianity itself has gone astray, has narrowed the criteria so clearly given at the burning bush, has itself lost perspective in a world that has never needed perspective more?

It isn't that Christianity doesn't have a place in the public debate, on the contrary. It's that politics has no place in Christianity.

It is not the place of political parties to seek to enlist the Christian community as part of its campaign staff. That smells far too much like collusion. It smacks far too much of the kind of theocratic thinking that preceded both the French and the Russian revolutions. It sounds too much like the rise of a new Christian Taliban. It sounds too much like this year's election, in fact.

It is not the function of Christian figures to condemn specific politicians. That, whether we like it or not, is still God's role. It is the function of Christianity to teach Christian values and criteria that can then be applied by you and me to the political positions of our politicians. Christianity must form us "to hear the cries of the poor" and then to vote accordingly.

We must be called to conscience—not to the political campaign strategies of either party.

If you want to cast a moral vote, print out one of the many comparative lists of the issues espoused by each candidate. Ask yourself the question, "Will this proposal, this position, affect the poor of this country or the world positively, negatively or neither?” Ascribe to each of the items in the platform or on the proposed legislative agenda a plus, a minus or a zero. Now count up the pluses. The program that will bring the most aid to the poor is the most moral position. [5]

Cast your vote accordingly. Or don’t cast it all. Either way, live your civic duty in God’s Kingdom, and subsequently in the United States of America.

_______________________________________________________

Sources

1. Brian McLaren, “Scared to Talk Politics In Church?” Sojourners Magazine
2. George Pickens, email conversation
3. Sojourners Magazine, http://go.sojo.net/campaign/takebackourfaith
4. Adam Hamilton, Leadership Journal, Spring 2004
5. Joan Chittister, “An Election Guide For Honest-To-God Serious Voters,” National Catholic Reporter, September 2, 2004

For further research on the candidates and the issues, and perspectives regarding Christians and voting:
http://www.smartvoter.org/2004/11/02/oh/
http://www.vote-smart.org
http://www.politics1.com
http://www.sojo.net
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/august2004/300804godisnot.htm
http://www.raptureready.com/republican.html
http://www.ivotevalues.com
http://www.thegoodsteward.com/article.php3?articleID=2234

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